Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Zinfandel St. Peter's Church Vineyard has been made by Cohn since 1996 and is farmed by the well-known grower and viticulturalist Ulises Valdez. A deep, super-concentrated style of Zinfandel, but very well-balanced, the wine offers sweet tannin, adequate acidity, and copious quantities of blackberry and peppery notes in its flagrance and full-bodied, powerful flavors. At 15.2% alcohol, there 's nothing wimpy about this Zinfandel, but it also carries its alcohol brilliantly, and the overall impression is one of exceptional balance. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.